Container



March 28, 193 9. w BQNFIELD 2,151,733

CONTAINER Filed May 4, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet l qz 2p 4) as 23 Q j ,3

-5711" "e I a 33 4: & I

March 28, 1939. E. w. BONFIELD 2,151,733

CONTAINER Filed May 4, 1936 s Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Mar. 28, 1939 UNITED STATES.

comma Emmons W. Bonfleld, Grand Rapids, Mich., as-

signor to American Box Board Company, Grand Rapids, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application May 4, 1936, Serial at. 77,800

7 Claims. (01. 229-39) This invention relates generally to a receptacle or carton. More particularly, the invention is directed to a carton capable of being folded and shipped in a fiat form and then quickly and easily erected to a rectangularly shaped carton, a

handle being integrally formed therewith. Furthermore, the carton can be easily collapsed and again erected as many times as desired,

Briefly described, my invention consists of a 10 body portion of rectangular shape having four flap members at its bottom and six flap members at its top. The four bottom flap members are so constructed that inward movement of these, after the four flaps have been moved to the same plane,

causes locking engagement therebetween whereupon the return of these four flaps to the same plane, caused by their natural resiliency, provides a flat and rigidly positioned bottom for the carton. -As stated, the top of the body portion has six flaps, two side flaps of relatively long length and -two'flaps at each end, the side flaps not only serving to partially provide the top structure but also abutting each other to form a handle for the carton. The end flaps maintain I I the side flaps in position.

g relatively heavy objects or articles therein.

Usually the carton is utilized for carrying canned goods, one size of carton receiving one dozen four and one-half ounce tins of canned goods. However, my article is capable of being expediently utilized for easily carrying many difierent articles of merchandise and thus sales are I increased.

Another advantage of my carton resides in its construction wherein the handle member can be dispensed with if desired and the portions of the side flaps forming this handle turned inwardly whereby they extend into the body of the carton between the layers of merchandise therein. The top of the carton, when utilized in this manner, is flat. Thus, the cartons can be stacked one upon the other inasmuch as there are no protruding handles to cause interference.

Another advantage of my carton is that the top maybe formed flat, that is, there are no inwardly 60 or outwardly extending portions thereof. The two side flaps may be folded to the plane of the top and likewise the four end flaps may be folded to this plane, the end flaps interlocking with slits on the two side flaps. In this respect, the

66 formation of the opening through one of the upper side flaps is large enough so that when the flap has been laid out in a horizontal plane and over the slit in the other side flap. through which the end flaps are to be inserted, said end flaps will be passed through the opening and the slot, 5 i. e. the opening, when placed over the slit, will not prevent the insertion of the end flaps therethrough. Thus, all of the flaps-are located in superposed positions in the plane of the top and the whole space within the carton may be utilized. in

Additionally, there are no outwardly extending portions of the flaps and consequently the cartons may be stacked one upon the other-as desired.

Another feature of my invention resides in the bottom construction. This construction elimil5 nates any gluing of the several members and moreover provides an instant seal. In other words, the folded carton, lying in a single flat plane, is erected to open-ended position and then the bottom side flaps are folded against each other and the bottom end flaps forcibly bent thereagainst whereupon the tongues of the bottom end flaps enter the slots of the side flaps thus providing a locked bottom construction upon the return downward movement ofthe flaps to 25 the bottom plane.

Other advantages of this invention will appear as the description proceeds. Furthermore, this construction of receptacle may also beused in other ways as will appear as an understanding of 30 the invention is had from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the carton blank from which the carton is made. I 85 Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the carton in its assembled position, the hand of the person carrying the same being illustrated in dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the 40 bottom construction of the carton.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the method of assembling the bottom construction of the carton.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view showing the end flaps 45 extending outwardly and showing the manner in which the side flaps may be folded, one covering the other, in the same plane.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the carton as it will be seen when the side flaps-are placed in their alternate position, namely, in the plane of the top of the box. I

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

As is shown .in Fig. 1, i0 indicates one end of thecarton, II the other end, l2 one side and I! the other side. The side l3 has a flap l4 formed thereon. As is indicated by dotted lines the several portions just mentioned are separated by parallel scored lines whereby they may be bent to a box-dike form, the flap member I4 being glued onto the free edge of the end Ill. -It will be understood that the box can be folded to a flat position about certain of the aforesaid mentioned scored lines so that it can be readily shipped. The boxes are piled flat upon 'one another and thus require a minimum of shipping space. The end members l and Ii are similarly formed. The end members have lower flap portions IS with cut-away sides to form ears or tabs l6. Each flap I5 is medially scored at l1 and a scored line l3 separates it from the end member.

At the upper edges of the ends, flaps l9 are formed, these flaps being separatedby slots 2|. The width of each slot is at least equal to double the thickness of the material from which the carton is manufactured. Each of the flaps I9 is cut away at its outer side to form ears 22.

The side member 2 has a bottom flap 24 separated therefrom by the scored line 25 and curved slits 26 of the shape shown are provided. The upper portion of the side l2 has a first flap member 21 separated from the side I 2 by the scored line 29 and a second flap 29 is integrally formed therewith. A scored line 29 connects the first and second flaps at their outer sides while the central portion is slit 'as indicated by the lines 3|, this forming a tongue 32 and a shorter tongue 33. The flap 21 is slit as indicated at 34.

As previously mentioned, the other end. ii is similar in construction to the end l9 and its flap portions carry the same numerals.

The side l3 has a lower flap 35 separated therefrom by the scored line 36 and slits 31, formed as shown, provides small shielding portions 38. The slits 21 are similar to slits 26. v The upper edge of the side l3 carries a lower flap 39 separated therefrom by the scored line 49. An upper flap continues from the flap 39 and is separated therefrom by the scored line 42. An opening 43 is formed therebetween. The flap 39 is slit as indicated at 44, this slit being similar to slit 34.

If it is desired, the side flaps, instead of being folded to form a handle as shown in Fig. 2, may overlap one another as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 so that the handles do not protrude and still the entire space in the box is capable of being utilized. The portions indicated by the reference numeral 4| in Fig. 2 do not extend into the box, nor do they extend outwardly as shown in Fig. 2. These portions overlap and lie alongside one another as in Fig. 5, and the opening 43 through the uppermost portion 4| is of such size and shape that the slit 34 is exposed therethrough. Thus the slit 94 is available for the locking tabs 23, and the other pair of locking tabs are placed in the slot 44, since this slit is exposed.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4 it will be seen that the lower flaps 24 and 35 are bent towards each other so as to occupy the same plane and then the end flaps l5, carrying the interlocking ears ii, are placed thereagainst. Pressure upon the intermediate portions of the end flaps, as by the thumbs of the person assembling the device upon the scored lines l1, will cause the parts to assume the position shown in Fig. 4 whereupon the return movement, caused by the resiliency of the several parts, will cause the ears IE to enter through the slots 26 and I! to the position shown in Fig. 3. Thus a securely locked bottom construction is had.

In order to complete the closing of the carton, after the same has been packed, the upper side flaps 21 and 39 are folded downwardly to the same plane whereupon the outer flaps 29 and 4| lie side by side. The tongue member 32 is now bent upwardly around the upper edge of the opening 43'thus lying flat against the handle as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

One advantage of the tongue member construction as just recited, lies in the fact that it securely holds the members 29 and 4| together. This strengthens the box and gives added rigidity to the handle. Also, the portion of the material between the flaps 29 and 4| bends to a curved shape, see Fig. 2 of the drawings, whereby a convenient hand grip is formed. The shorter tongue 33 extends through the opening and rests upon the flap 39.

As is clearly shown in Fig. 2, the tongue 93, shown in dotted lines, extends across the plane of the handle member and rests upon the flap 39. Thus the small opening adjacent the lower portion of the handle is completely sealed.

Next, the several tongues 23 are inserted in the slits 34 and 44 as is indicated by the dotted line showing of Fig. 2. This completes the assembly and it will be understood that the slots 2| receive the abutting flaps 29 and 4|, these forming the handle member. The straight sides of the flaps l9 adjacent the slots 2| contact the upright handle structure and this prevents accidental releasing movement of the ears 23.

If desired, and if the contents of the package permits, the flaps 29 and 4| may be bent downwardly to a position within the carton thus giving a flat-topped carton which sometimes is desired.

Having thus revealed this invention, I claim as new and desire to secure the following combinations and elements, or equivalents thereof, by Letters Patent of the United States.

I claim:

1. A carton of the class described consisting of sides, ends and a bottom, said sides having top flaps including approaching portions extending toward one another and other portions extending upwardly alongside of each other, at least one of said approaching portions of the top flaps being slit substantially parallel to the upwardly extending portions of said top flaps; said ends each having two spaced apart end flaps, each flap having an ear extending toward a side of the box,

said end flaps being foldable so that the ears on opposing flaps enter the same slit in an approaching portion, and the inner edges of opposing end flaps contacting the upwardly extending portion of the same top flap whereby accidental withdrawal thereof is prevented.

2. A carton construction as recited in claim 1 in which the upwardly extending portions have alined hand openings therethrough, said hand openings being positioned relatively close to the bottom of the said portions whereby the hand of the user is closely positioned to the contacting means on the end flaps whereby accidental upward movement thereof is prevented.

3. In an article of manufacture of the class described, a box construction of' rectangular shape having two side members, two end members, and a bottom therefor, flaps at the upper edges of the side members, said flaps being of such length as to extend to abutting relationship with each other to partially form a top for the abutting portions, said abutting portions having an opening cut therethrough whereby a hand opening is formed therein, the bottom of said hand opening being at the folds of said flaps,

the material from one of said openings being divided, part extending underneath the adjacent flap and part extending through the opening in the adjacent flap and upwardly along the same, the two ends of said box each having spaced flaps thereon, said flapsbeing bendable downwardly into the top plane of the box, each flap at each end lying on one side of the abutting portions and being cooperatively associated with the adjacent portion of the side flaps to maintain the same in position, for the purpose described. h

4. An article of manufacture as set forth in claim 3 in which said cooperative relationship between the endflaps and the side flaps comprises slits in the side flaps and ears on the end flaps, said ears extending toward the sides of the box and means on the ears, integrally formed therewith, contacting the abutting portion of the said side flaps.

5. A box from the class described consisting of sides, ends and bottom, side flaps extending towards one another and then overlap in one another, the upper overlapping flap having an opening therethrough for the purpose described, end flaps i'oldable to positions above the side flaps, and means on the end flaps for locking the same in position, the lowermost positioned side flap having a slit thereinlocated below the opening 3 of the other side flap and receiving the locking means of .the said endflaps through said opening for the purpose describedif-y I 6. In an article of;.1manuracture' oi the class described, a boxconstruction; of; rectangular shape having side flapsrandfeiidflaps thereon,

said side flaps adapted tojbe placed in the top plane of the box overlapping one another and also, as an alternative, adapted to have a portion of each of said side flaps placed in said plane and have the remainingportion extend upwardly to form a. handle for the said box, one of said upwardly extending portions of one of the flaps being cut away to form an opening therethrough, said flap also being folded downwardly upon the other side flap when desired, a portion of the lower flap being exposed through said opening, the exposed portion having a slit therein in which an end flap may be inserted, locking means on the said end flaps being insertable through the said opening into the lower side flap for the pur- Pose described.

7. A carton of the class described comprising four sides and a bottom, flaps on the upper ends of said sides, .two of said flaps being foldable to overlapping position, the upper of said flaps having an opening therethrough. the lower of said flaps having a slit underneath the opening, the other of said flaps located above the said two flaps and having locking means extending through said opening to associated relationship with the said slit.

EMMONS W. BONFIHD. 

